More Korean court translators needed

Currently only 60 in entire state of California

During a public hearing this week, residents and court employees came out to discuss the Statewide Language Access Plan (LAP) for California Courts, which was launched last month by the state’s legislation and judiciary committee. (Park Sang-hyuk)

By Kim Hyung-jae

California state court authorities are planning to carry out a policy to expand translation services for minorities, including Koreans.

During a public hearing this week, residents and court employees came out to discuss the Statewide Language Access Plan (LAP) for California Courts, which was launched last month by the state’s legislation and judiciary committee.

The LAP outlines the need for a more comprehensive translation service. The committee said its aim is to provide those who do not have English proficiency — currently 20 percent of Californians, or 7 million people — with services to break the language barrier.

Residents and representatives from nonprofit organizations who were present said the court should provide court laws in each language in addition to expanding its translation service.

Minority women who are victims of domestic violence often cannot find court translation services even after three months of waiting, said Anne Kim of the Center for the Pacific Asian Family. It took one Korean woman seven months just to hold her first trial because she could not find a translator, she said.

The number of current Korean court translators in the entire state, 60, is not enough to cover the demand, said Angie Murphy of the Riverside county superior court.

According to Sherri Carter of LA’s superior court, there are 388 court translators in LA county, most of them Spanish. Translators for the more-than 22 other languages are not full-time.